Warship refits that made the panel ask why

Which ship refits most made the panel wonder why they had been attempted?

They cited Tiger-class and 1970s frigate work, some American missile conversions and ironclad rebuilds, and especially India's final reconstruction of HMS Hermes.

The panel names the Tiger-class conversions and several Royal Navy frigate refits of the 1970s as projects that invite questions about their purpose or value. American destroyer-to-guided-missile-destroyer rebuilds are described as aesthetically awkward, while some ironclad conversions of ships of the line provoke the same reaction. Dr. Clarke's strongest example is the final Indian rebuild of the former HMS Hermes. An old hull can reach a stage where replacement is more sensible than another extensive reconstruction, without making every modernization a mistake.